Bill Moran <wmoran@potentialtech.com> writes:
> In response to Gene Hart <genekhart@gmail.com>:
>> PostgreSQL stand-alone backend 8.4.4
>> backend> vacuum
>> backend> ^D^D
>> exit
> Am I reading this wrong or did you not bother to allow the vacuum to finish?
> Considering there's no command terminator (;) on the vacuum command, it's
> unlikely that it ever actually started to do anything.
No, Gene did it right --- standalone backends have a different command-line
syntax. (I assume also that he observed a suitably long delay before
the second backend> prompt came up...)
I think Scott's idea of ancient prepared transactions is probably the
most likely bet. Roll those back and then vacuum and you'll be OK.
regards, tom lane